OPERATION FOR STRANGULATED VENTRAL HERNIA. 215 
ventral hernia. The horse soon recovered from the imme- 
diate effects of the injury, but the hernia remained; the 
opening in the abdominal muscles being nearly three inches 
in diameter, and the size of the tumour about equal to the 
double fist. No great inconvenience seemed to have marked 
the existence of the rupture till May, 1853, when he was 
attacked with symptoms analogous to those seen in colic. 
My attendance being requested, I at first thought that his 
illness was due to simple gastric irritation, and, as the bowels 
w r ere constipated, I administered oleaginous aperients and 
other similar medicaments, but without any relief being ob- 
tained. The symptoms of the animal becoming more urgent, 
I carefully examined the hernial tumour, and satisfied myself 
that strangulation of the intestines had taken place ; the in- 
creased size of the enlargement, the impossibility, by ordinary 
manipulations, of reducing the hernia, and the pain attending 
the application of the least pressure to the part, all showed 
the precise nature of the case. Under such circumstances 
no hope of the animal’s recovery could be entertained unless 
recourse was at once had to a surgical operation. This being 
decided upon, I had the patient secured, and placed in a posi- 
tion favorable to my proceedings. I first made a small 
incision very carefully through the skin, to avoid any injury 
to the bowel : this was then dilated sufficient to allow the 
introduction of a bistoury, by side of the intestine, through the 
aperture of the muscles, into the abdomen. Directing the 
cutting edge of the instrument outwards, I now enlarged the 
opening in the muscles, and then withdrawing the knife and 
employing the taxis, I was enabled with but little trouble to 
return the intestine into its proper cavity. This done, the 
edges of the laceration were brought into apposition by 
sutures, which embraced the entire substance of the abdo 
minal muscles. Although, from the length of time which 
had elapsed since the accident, the border of the opening in 
the muscles was somewhat thickened and indurated, I trusted 
to the restorative power of nature to close it after the ordinary 
manner, rather than prolong the operation by making a fresh 
surface for the granulations to spring from. Nor had I any 
reason to repent of this decision, as the w 7 ound readily 
healed. My next step was to bring together the edges of 
incision made in the skin, for which purpose sutures were 
likewise employed. The operation being thus far completed, 
the animal was disengaged from his fetters. 
In the course of a short time it was evident that con- 
siderable relief was afforded. The severity of the symptoms 
being abated, a few hours sufficed for the removal of all those 
